Speaker Straus ignoring them, House Democrats say

House Democrats are not as enthused with House Speaker Joe Straus today as they were when they essentially made him speaker nearly 18 months ago when the San Antonio Republican emerged to take on incumbent Tom Craddick, R-Midland.

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Speaker Straus, R-San Antonio

Their latest disappointment came Friday when Straus named House GOP Caucus Chair Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, to the Sunset Commission to replace Carl Isett, who quit.

“Speaker Straus pledged inclusiveness when he became Speaker,” said House Democratic Caucus Leader Jessica Farrar. “He has ignored the Democrats that helped elect him and has stacked the Sunset Commission with conservative Republicans. Democrats hold only one of the five House appointments to the commission.

” Based on the makeup of the House, Democrats should have at least two. With the most recent vacancy, the speaker had an opportunity to restore a semblance of parity to the Sunset Commission. Instead, he doubled down and appointed the chair of the House Republican Caucus.”

Added Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston: “The Speaker has had four chances to appoint members to the Sunset Commission and only one of those appointments has been a Democrat. Anyone who doesn’t believe he is a dyed in the wool conservative Republican isn’t paying attention to the appointments made by the speaker.”

The response came from Straus’ spokeswoman, Tracy Young.

“The work of the sunset commission will be critical to improving efficiency in state government as we face a large budget shortfall, and Speaker Straus appointed Rep. Taylor because of his specific expertise for this role,” she said. “The speaker has worked hard to be fair in the appointments process and appoint members from both parties based on their talents and ability to contribute the most to our state’s needs.”

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Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston

That response is not likely to satisfy Democrats, who expected more from their colleague.

The House is narrowly defeated between 77 Republicans and 73 Democrats. Straus emerged as the chosen one from a closed-door meeting nearly 17 months ago involving 11 House Republicans who had soured on Craddick’s leadership. But Straus had fewer than 20 GOP supporters at that point and it takes 76 votes to become House speaker. The huge bloc of Democrats sealed the win for him.